♪ MAARJA: GOOD EVENING AND WE TO THE SPECIAL LOCATION OF "ALMANAC NORTH."

BRETT: TONIGHT WE ARE ON LOCATION.

MAARJA: THE CONTENTS OF THM IS OUR FOCUS FOR THIS SPECL EPISODE.

THE MILITARY IN THE NORTH .

WE WILL HAVE VERAL PEOPLE E UP ON STAGE.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST GUEST.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

MAARJA: HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

THE FIRST SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO THS FILM?

>> COMMUNITY SERVICE WAS VY MUCH A PART OF THE UPBRING.

THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO SE YOUR COMMUNITY THAN SERVE E PEOPLE RESERVE THE COUNTRY.

I WAS A NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT WT POINT.

WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAMEI REMEMBERHOSE EXPERIENCES.

I WANTED TO DO MORE THAT BE IT WAS THE BEST.

MAARJA: SOME WONDERFUL STOS YOU GET TO SHARE.

>> A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENC.

SO MANY ASPECTS OF THE PHO.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT FINDIG FOLKS FOR THIS DOCUMENTARY?

>> THE ARMORY IS SO RICH WH HISTORY.

WE DID INTERVIEWS WITH THE CODIRECTOR.

FROM THERE WAS KIND OF A DO EFFECT.

EVERY TIME I DID AN INTERVW WITH SOMEONE, THEY SAID T'S SOMEONE ELSE YET TO TALK T. BRETT: YOU MENTIONED THERED BE MORE PARTS TO THIS.

THERE WAS SO MANY INTERVIES THAT HE WANTED TO DO.

>> I THINK PRESERVING HISTS A CHILD THAT NEVER ENDS.

THERE ARE SO MANY VETERANSD NOT GET TO TALK TO.

WE COULD DO MILLIONS OF TH.

JUST IN THE DULUTH AREA.

MAARJA: THEY'RE ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE WOVEN IN.

HOW DID THOSE COME OUT TO .

>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTAT THINGS THAT CAME OUT, THE M BECAME ABOUT THAT.

THAT REALLY GOT ME.

BOTH MILITARY HISTORY AND L OTHER KINDS OF LOCAL HISTO.

BRETT: WAS THERE A PART DUG THE FILMING THAT SURPRISED OVERSHIFTED YOU AND OPEN YR HORIZONS?

>> I WAS AT FOND DU LAC.

I HAD NOT PLANNED TO INTERW HIM.

I SAID TELL ME WHAT A CODE TALKER IS.

I LEARNED FROM HIM IT WAS A SERVICE WHO USED TRADITIONL NATIVE LANGUAGES AS CODE IN WORLD WAR II.

THERE WAS A HAPPY ACCIDENTD THE PHONE.

MAARJA: YOU HAVE SOMETHING PLANNED OUT.

THEN SOMETHING SHAKES IT U.

THAT MAKES IT BETTER.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING YOU WE PLANNING ON INCLUDING.

IT SURPRISESOU AS A FILMMA.

BRETT: WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE WILL TASK YOU.

WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN LATE.

OF WE WILL HEAR FROM A VETN SERVICES OFFICER.

♪ BRETT: WE ARE BACK WITH PAD VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THEW WITH US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BITT YOUR JOURNEY AND WHAT SERVE LOOKS LIKE?

>> I WENT INTO THE NAVY RIT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WANTO DO.

BEING ON MY OWN 18 WAS KINF SCARY.

I WENT INTO THE NAVY AND IT KIND OF FIT.

THERE WERE PEOPLE LIKE ME.

WE HAD SHARED EXPERIENCES.

IT WAS VERY COMFORTABLE.

IT WAS FIVE YEARS.

I WANTED TO MAKE IT A CARET IT DID NOT HAPPEN.

MAARJA: AS A MEMBER OF T FD DU LAC BAND WITH A VETERANF THE FAMILY, HOW DID YOUR HERITAGE AND FAMILY HISTORY ENCOURAGER SERVICE?

>> MY GRANDFATHER WAS VERY PROUD.

IT DID NOT MATTER WHAT HE .

HE WAS AN ELECTRICIAN.

HE ALWAYS DID THE BEST.

THAT KIND OF TRICKLE DOWN.

MY DAD WAS IN THE ARMY DURG VIETNAM.

I HAVE THE MILITARY ON MY .

BRETT: ONCE YOU WERE APPRO, HOWEVER WAS IT TO SHARE YOR STORY?

>> IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR MEO TELL MY STORY.

BUT IT WAS NOT ME.

I KIND OF STOOD IN THE BACKGROUND.

WE HAD PEOPLE FROM OUR HONR GUARD COME IN.

MAARJA: YOU SERVED IN ROLES DURING YOUR NAVY SERVICE.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MEMOE EXPERIENCES YOU HAD?

>> WORKING IN THE LAUNDRY S ACTUALLY THE BEST JOB.

NOBODY WAS LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER.

I COULD DO IT THE WAY I WAD TO.

THAT WAS GREAT.

WORKING IN THE SHIPS STORET TO KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE.

THAT IS WHERE I GOT MY CUSR SERVICE SKILLS.

SERVICE SKILLS.MY PEOPLE S. BRETT: WHAT KINDS OF SUPPOR CONNECTION HELPS YOU MOST N YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?

>> I HAVE A NATURAL GIVER.

WHEN I WENT TO THE MILITARD I WAS SERVICING -- SERVING PEOPLE, THAT HELPED ME LAW.

AFTER THE MILITARY, THAT CONTINUED.

WE DID SOME FOSTER CARE.

WE ADOPTED A FEW CHILDREN.

THAT LED TO THE HONOR GUAR.

WHICH LED TO VETERANS SERV.

THIS WAS THE JOB I WAS MAD.

THIS CHANGES EVERY SINGLE .

I FINALLY WORKING WITH THEE TO DO CLAIMS.

THE SURROUNDING AREA CAN CE IN.

WE DO THE POWER WELL -- W OW.

IT IS REALLY NICE TO BE ABO HELP PEOPLE.

BRETT: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YU HAVE TWO YOUNGER PEOPLE CONSIDERING GOING INTO THE FORCES.

>> GO INTO THE NAVY.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD DOT FOR A FEW YEARS.

IT GIVES YOU A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.

I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE W. MAARJA: WHAT PARTS OF THE D DID YOU GET TO SEE?

>> I WAS STATIONED IN SCOT.

THAT WAS MY FIRST DUTY STA.

THEN WE WENT INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN.

PORTUGAL, SPAIN, ITALY.

MAARJA: SEEING THE WORLD AD SERVING AT THE SAME TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOING AS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK UP FE PANEL AT THE SHOW.

NEXT UP WILL WE -- WE WILLE JOINED BY RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL.

♪ MAARJA: WE ARE JOINED BY A RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.

YOUR CAREER SPANNED 37 YEA.

EVEN THE COLD WAR ERA.

HIGHLY GROWING UP AND SERVN NORTHERN MINNESOTA SHAPE YR DERSTANDING OF DUTY OR LEADERSHIP?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO BACK UPT A LITTLE BIT.

I WAS BORN EARLY AND THAT I REMEMBER THE SECOND WORLD R VIVIDLY.

THAT WAS MY INTRODUCTION TO MILITARY SERVICE.

I THINK AFTER THAT I ALWAYD A DESIRE TO BELONG TO THE MILITARY.

I JOINED THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

I ATTENDED OFFICER CANDIDAE I ATTENDED OFFICER CANDIDA.

I WAS COMMISSIONED AS A SED LIEUTENANT.

I THINK AT 21 YEARS OF AGER THEREABOUTS, ALL OF A SUDDU REALIZE YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MILLIONF DOLLARS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT.

IF YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, S A FANTASTIC JOB.

A FANTASTIC LEARNING EXPER.

BRETT: YOU MENTIONED THAT 1 YEARS OF AGE, HOW DID YOU PERSONALLY PREPARE YOURSELR A LIFE OF SERVICE?

>> I WAS AN ENLISTED SOLDI.

YOU JUST DO WHAT THEY ASK O DO.

[LAUGHTER] MAARJA: YOU ARE FEATURED IE DOCUMENTARY.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE AT OF THIS DOCUMENTARY?

>> I WAS ASKED TO DO THE INTERVIEW.

DURING THE COURSE OF MY SE, I SPENT 10 OR 11 YEARS ANDE BUILDING DOING VARIOUS JOB.

I WAS A YOUNG CAPTAIN.

JUST OFF OF COMPANY COMMAN.

I WAS ASSIGNED AS AN ASSIST OPERATIONS OFFICER.

A FEW YEARS LATER I WAS PRD TO MAJOR.

I HAD A LITTLE BREAK IN SE.

BRETT: AS SOMEONE WHO HAS RETIRED FROM THE ARMY, WHAE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE HOR AND REMEMBER OUR VETERANS?

>> I THINK WE DO A GREAT J. I THINK THE AVERAGE AGE OFE VETERANS IS GETTING MUCH O.

IT IS BECOMING MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO KEEP SOME VETS ORGANIZATIONS GOING.

THAT BOTHERS ME.

WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE INTEREST OF THE UNGER VETERANS.

THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THO A GREAT JOB.

THERE IS A REMEMBERED STATE PROGRAM.

ON THE VETERANS DAY PROGRAE COHOSTED THAT.

IT HAS BEEN VERY PRODUCTIV.

ARJA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PANL DISCUSSION.

♪ MAARJA: WE WILL FINISH THEW WITH A PANEL DISCUSSION WIL OF OUR GUEST.

I THINK THIS FIRST QUESTIOL BE GEARED TOWARD YOU.

WE HAVE THREE VERY DIFFERET PERSPECTIVES HERE.

AND THAT IS JUST A SLICE OT FOLKS WILL SEE IN THE DOCUMENTARY.

THERE ARE 70 DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

>> WE WANTED TO GET HISTORS TALKING ABOUT EVENTS GOINGK TO THE CIVIL WAR.

AND WE WANTED TO GET INTERS WITH CURRENT SERVICE MEMBE.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE THREE PRIMARY PERSPECTIVES THAT D THE NARRATIVE.

AND HOW WE SHAPED THE PHON.

BRETT: WHAT IS THE TAKE AWU ARE HOPING VIEWERS GET FROS PHONE?

>> THAT EVERYONE SHOULD DOE SORT OF SERVICE.

THE MILITARY WOULD BE THE T WAY TO GO.

MAARJA: INTERGENERATIONAL Y IS A KEY THING.

HOW CAN WE KEEP THESE STORS ALIVE?

>> ONE OF THE WAYS IS THROH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THATG PEOPLE TOGETHER.

AND APPEAL TO A BROAD RANGF AGE GROUPS.

AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY E HAVE IN HONOR.

THEY START TO UNDERSTAND TE SACRIFICE THAT PEOPLE HAVEE IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS COUNA FREE COUNTRY.

BRETT: OUR SHOW TONIGHT IS LEADING UP TO THE FIRST SCREENING OF YOUR PHONE.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEE?

>> I'M ALWAYS PRETTY NERVO.

I THINK EVERYONE IN THE FIM WILL APPRECIATE THE WAY THR STORY IS TREATED WITH RESP.

THAT IS THE PRIMARY THING I WANTED TO COME ACROSS.

WE CANNOT INCLUDE EVERYE AD WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

MAARJA: THIS CAN GO TO EVEE HERE.

IS IT A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE R NORTHERN VETERANS AND PEOPE INVOLVED?

DOES OUR WAY OF LIFE MAKE T DIFFERENT?

>> IT WAS DEFTLY DIFFERENTR ME.

I WENT TO ORLANDO IN AUGUS.

AND I HAD NEVER TRAVELED.

NOW WITH THE INTERNET AND EVERYTHING, I THINK EVERYBY AROUND THE NATION GETS THEE INFORMATION.

I HAD A LOT TO LEARN.

>> I HAD THE SAME KIND OF EXPERIENCE.

WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THA.

>> A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I INTERVIEWED TALK ABOUT HOW MINNESOTA WAS THE FIRST STO OFFER UP TROOPS TO LINCOLNO FIGHT FOR THE NORTH.

IN THE FILM WE GET TO TALKT THAT.

I THINK THAT INFORMS THE WY THAT MINNESOTANS THINK ABOE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE ARMED FORCES.

MAARJA: I REMEMBER WHEN I T MOVED TO DULUTH, THAT WAS F THE FUN FACTS THAT THE FINL UNION SOLDIER TO PASS AWAYS IN DULUTH.

>> HE IS IN THE FILM AS WE.

BRETT: HOW D YOU HOPE THATE CAN HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO T IN THE YEARS TO COME?

>> THEY DO A GREAT JOB.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLIA RELATIONSHIP.

IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF SERV, THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE WS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED.

MAARJA: WHAT ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT?

>> I GUESS I KIND OF IN A E SITUATION.

IT IS HARD TO GET.

IT IS HARD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN D. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE O NEED THE SERVICES THAT DO T GET THEM.

THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

>> I THINK THE OPPORTUNITYO INTO A CIVILIAN HEALTH CARE FACILITY IS DEFINITELY A GD MOVE.

>> COMMUNITY CARE DEFINITEY HELPS.

WE CAN TALK TO THERAPISTS N KENTUCKY.

IT IS HARD TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.

MAARJA: WE HAVE JUST A MINE LEFT.

IF SOMEONE WALKS AWAY FROMS DOCUMENTARY THINKING ONE T, WHAT IS IT?

>> THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS IT.

>> I WILL PIGGYBACK ON THA.

ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING HISTORY.

MAARJA: KEEPING THOSE STORS BEING TOLD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINS ON STAGE TONIGHT.

THIS WRAPS UP OUR SPECIAL EPISODE OF "ALMANAC NORTH."

YOU CAN CATCH THE DOCUMENTN JUNE ON PBS.

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SCREENING RIGHT AFTER THIS.

BRETT: WE WERE FORTUNATE EH TO BE ABLE TO WATCH A LITTT EARLIER AND IT IS VERY EYE-OPENING.

IT IS WONDERFUL.

MAARJA: YOU LEARN A LOT.

BRETT: FROM ALL OF US, WE K YOU FOR JOINING US ON THISY SPECIAL EVENING.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ZEITGEIST FOR HOSTING US.

MAARJA: THANK YOU SO MUCH R JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪